Blue Wahoos Tied For First After Loss To Montgomery
June 15, 2016
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos are in the race for the first half Southern League South Division crown headed into its last series that starts Wednesday against the rival Mobile BayBears.
It’s only the second time the ball club has been in first place headed into the last series of the half since its inception five years ago. The other was the second half of last year.
Pensacola, which is six-for-six in series wins at home, is now 37-27 and tied for first with the Biloxi Shuckers. They beat the Birmingham Barons and end their season with a five-game series on the road against the Jacksonville Suns.
“I like our position,” said Pensacola manager Pat Kelly in his second year heading the club. “It’s a lot better than seven other teams in the league right now. It’s much more exciting to be playing for something in the last series.”
The Montgomery Biscuits escaped with a win in the final game of the series, 7-1, Tuesday in front of 3,532 fans at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
Pensacola and Biloxi have shared first place all season this year. In 2015, the second half was decided in the next to last game of the season when Pensacola beat Mobile to win the division and play Biloxi in the South Division playoffs, which the Shuckers ended up winning.
“Mobile will be a tough series,” Kelly said. “They have good pitching and a very good bullpen. We have to win as many as we can in those six games.”
Pensacola and Mobile are playing six games to make up a rain out in the last game of the series at Hank Aaron Stadium.
On Tuesday night, Montgomery put the game away in the seventh inning by sending 10 hitters to the plate and scoring five runs on five hits. Biscuits Tommy Coyle scored the first run when he doubled, reached third on a sacrifice bunt by catcher Jake DePew and then scored on a squeeze play by Biscuits shortstop Juniel Querecuto to make the score 3-0.
The big hit came from Montgomery third baseman Patrick Leonard who smacked a one-out line drive to right center with the bases loaded, scoring all three runners on to put the Biscuits ahead, 6-0. Leonard scored the final run of the inning when second baseman Kean Wong singled to center to extend Montgomery’s lead, 7-0.
The big inning in the seventh might have been prevented, if reliever El’Hajj Muhammad cleanly fielded a bunt down the third base line by Montgomery catcher Jake DePew and then thrown Querecuto out at first, instead of throwing home late trying to get Coyle.
Pensacola right-hander Nick Travieso and pitching coach Danny Darwin have been working on his delivery. It seemed to pay off as he threw six innings and allowed two runs on four hits and two walks, while striking out five. In his past three starts, Travieso had given up 12 runs, 10 earned in 12.2 innings.
“It was nice to see him get back on track,” Kelly said.
Travieso did labor in the fourth inning giving up two runs to Montgomery on one hit, one hit batter, two walks and two wild pitches. He hit the Biscuits’ Leonard with a 90 mph fastball to lead off the fourth. Leonard then took second on a wild pitch. Travieso then walked Montgomery DH Mike Marjama and both he and Leonard advanced on another wild pitch. Montgomery center fielder Tommy Coyle, batting .126, reached his bat out and sent the ball into right field that scored Leonard and Marjama to put the Biscuits on top, 2-0.
Meanwhile, Biscuits right-hander Taylor Guerrieri, the Tampa Bay No. 6 prospect, threw five scoreless innings to improve to 5-4 with a 3.88 ERA. He allowed just three hits, one walk and struck out four Pensacola batters.
Kelly said Guerrieri threw a cutter that broke six-to-eight inches, keeping the Pensacola batters off balance.
“He was very effective,” Kelly said.
Judge To Hear Arguments In Abortion Law Challenge
June 15, 2016
A Tallahassee federal judge will hear arguments June 29 on a request from Planned Parenthood to block parts of a major abortion law approved this year by Gov. Rick Scott and Florida lawmakers.
U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle issued an order setting the date to hear arguments about whether to issue a preliminary injunction or temporary restraining order against the law, which is scheduled to take effect July 1.
Planned Parenthood filed the lawsuit June 2 and challenged the constitutionality of three parts of the controversial law. The complaint, in part, targets a section of the law that seeks to prevent state agencies, local governments and Medicaid managed-care plans from contracting with organizations that own, operate or are affiliated with clinics that perform elective abortions.
While government agencies are already barred from funding elective abortions, Planned Parenthood argues that the new law would prevent clinics from receiving money to provide other health services for women, such as pap smears, pregnancy testing and screening for sexually transmitted diseases.
The complaint also challenges part of the law that would require the state Agency for Health Care Administration to inspect at least 50 percent of abortion-clinic patient records each year. In addition, the complaint challenges a section of the law that would change the state’s definition of trimesters of pregnancy.
No Injuries In Molino Crash
June 14, 2016
There were no serious injuries in a two vehicle crash Tuesday morning on Highway 99 at Molino Road. The accident involved a passenger vehicle and a pickup hauling a loaded horse trailer. The horse also did not suffer any serious injuries. The accident remains under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. The Molino and Cantonment stations of Escambia Fire Rescue and Escambia County EMS also responded. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Update: Driver Cited After Log Truck Overturns In Century
June 14, 2016
The driver was cited after a log truck overturned in Century Monday afternoon, shutting down North Century Boulevard.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, 66-year old Ronald Edward Crutchfield of Brewton was traveling north in the outside lane of North Century Boulevard near Jackson Street just before 5 p.m.. As he rounded a curve in the roadway, the weight of his load shifted to the right side, causing the vehicle to overturn as it exited the curve.
Crutchfield suffered minor injuries and was transported to D.W. McMillan Hospital in Brewton. He was cited by the FHP for careless driving.
Power lines were downed by the accident across North Century Boulevard, closing all four lanes of the highway. Gulf Power initially reported 24 customers without power following the crash.
\
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Century Council Discusses Transportation Wish List With State
June 14, 2016
When Highway 29, the main artery through your town, is closed due to an overturned truck and downed power lines, it makes it a bit easier to explain transportation needs to the state.
“Right now, Highway 29 is shut down because another big truck has wrecked in that curve,” Mayor Freddie McCall said. “That curve needs to be fixed.”
Tuesday evening, the Century Town Council met with Virgie Bowen of the Florida Department of Transportation to discuss the department’s Five-Year Plan — a tentative work plan for fiscal years 2017-2021. As the meeting was going on, the clean up was continuing on Highway 29 near Jackson street after a log truck overturned in a curve and hit a power pole. [Click here for more on the accident.]
“The elevation is wrong in the outside lane,” McCall told Bowen about the curve. Several trucks have overturned in the curve over the past several years, including a peanut truck a few years ago that damaged a city sewage system lift station. The station was rebuilt mostly underground to lessen or prevent future damage.
Bowen also heard a request that the state consider a parking or signage for tourists that stop for photos with the “Welcome to Florida” sign on Highway 29 at the state line. Sometimes, McCall said, tourists will stop in the travel lanes of Highway 29, turn on their emergency flashers and get out for a photo.
Bowen discussed a FDOT Transportation Alternative Program that would fund projects such as sidewalks on roadways that are not state highways. The council discussed the possible need for a sidewalk along West Highway 4, a county road within the town limits, from Highway 29 past Industrial Boulevard to a local dialysis center. A community center, nursing home, church, numerous residences and a large apartment complex are along the roadway, leading to a large number of pedestrians.
Members of the Century Town Council additionally complained about speeders on Highway 29 through the town. They acknowledged that they often see the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office actively enforcing speed limits, and they questioned in a portable radar-speed sign might be available that would display a driver’s speed compared to the legal speed limit.
The council’s requests will be compiled by Bowen, and she will return for a June 20 meeting with the council.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
State Fire Marshal Investigating Bluff Springs Travel Trailer Fire
June 14, 2016
The Florida State Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the cause of a fire that destroyed a travel trailer Monday night.
The unoccupied trailer in the Bluff Springs Campground in the 900 block of Bluff Springs Road was fully involved when the first fire units arrived on scene. It was a total loss.
There were no injuries reported.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Three Inmates Stabbed At Holman Prison
June 14, 2016
Three inmates were stabbed this past weekend at the Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore, according to the Alabama Department of Corrections.
A correctional officer found an inmate that had been stabbed about 10:20 Saturday night. That inmate was transported to an area hospital. About 3:30 a.m. Sunday, two other inmates were stabbed. One inmate was treated in the infirmary at the prison, the other was transported to a Mobile hospital for treatment.
Further details have not been released by the Alabama DOC.
Woman Sentenced For ‘Brutal’ Murder Of Stepfather
June 14, 2016
A young woman accused of the 2014 murder of her stepfather near Munson has been sentenced.
Taylor Lynn Crongeyer was sentenced Monday to three years in prison to be followed by one year of community control and two years probation. She will get credit for 18 months that she has already served in jail.
She pleaded guilty last month to a lesser charge of second degree manslaughter, claiming that she was physically abused. Prosecutors said she shot 40-year Aubrey Dewayne Cooley who was found dead December 26, 2014, with a gunshot wound to his head at his Dale Hall Road home. He was tied to the trailer hitch of a pickup truck with a rope around his ankles.
When deputies arrived on scene, Crongeyer, who was 18 at the time, exited the residence with a large amount of blood on her clothing, according to an arrest report. When deputies walked through the residence, they found blood spots on the floor, a bedroom mattress and outside on the front and back porch areas. They also found a rifle on the floor at the foot of a bed in the master bedroom.
A spokesman for the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office called incident a “brutal homicide”, arresting Crongeyer just hours after the shooting.
FWC Law Enforcement Report
June 14, 2016
The Florida FWC Division of Law Enforcement reported the following activity during the weekly period ending June 9 in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
SANTA ROSA COUNTY
Throughout the week, Officer Lewis made 14 arrests in Blackwater River State Forest for possession of not more than 20 grams of cannabis, possession of drug paraphernalia and a felony warrant. Officer Lewis also issued various citations and warnings for forestry violations including operating vehicles off the established roads, possessing alcoholic beverages where prohibited, and possessing glass containers in or around waterways.
Officer Hutchinson assisted Lieutenant Berryman after a fleeing driver of a stolen vehicle attempted to elude capture by speeding on the interstate before fleeing on foot. He was spotted hiding in a nearby hotel and taken into custody. A search of the car revealed crack cocaine and various drug paraphernalia. The man stated that he swallowed a bag of heroin and was taken to a local hospital for medical attention. He spent the next several days talking to various officers that maintained a watch over him. He admitted to taking the vehicle from a friend to go and buy heroin. He stated that he was shooting up during the pursuit and admitted to being heavily intoxicated and under the influence of drugs. After being medically cleared, the man was transported to jail where he was booked for possession of cocaine, fleeing and eluding, and grand theft. Additional charges of DUI and reckless driving are pending.
ESCAMBIA COUNTY
(No report was submitted this week from Escambia County.)
This report represents some events the FWC handled over the past week; however, it does not include all actions taken by the Division of Law Enforcement. Information provided by FWC.
Learn How To Do Business With ECUA At Workshop
June 14, 2016
This Wednesday, the Florida Procurement Technical AssistanceCenter (PTAC), will offer a free workshop entitled, “How to do Business with the Emerald Coast Utilities Authority” (ECUA). The event will be held at the University of West Florida, Innovation Institute, 321 N. DeVilliers Street, Suite 308, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
The informational meeting will educate attendees about the potential of doing business with the Authority, while increasing participation in obtaining future contracts. Participants will learn about the bidding process, qualification requirements, future business opportunities, and how the ECUA hiring process is conducted.
The featured speakers will include; Bill Johnson, ECUA director of engineering, Tony Howard, ECUA senior purchasing agent, and Chiquita Payne, ECUA human resource generalist.
The workshop is free; however, pre-registration is recommended. For additional information contact Laura Subel, PTAC procurement specialist, lsubel@uwf.edu (850) 474-2549 or register at clientsfloridasbdc.org/center.